Middleton mismatch offers poor value

MIKE MIDDLETON looks what he is: a friendly, brave sort of guy with a day job.

Unfortunately, he doesn't look like a boxer, which is perhaps the minimum we might have expected, given the nature of his business at Wembley Arena this Saturday night.

For Middleton, 33, a Gulf War veteran from Florida who is expected to arrive today, will reportedly earn about £3,500 as cannon fodder for Britain's Olympic hero, Audley Harrison. No self-respecting British boxer would have fought Harrison for that kind of chump-change.

The word on the circuit a couple of months ago was that Jack Trickett, manager of Michael Murray, a 36-year-old journeyman from Manchester, had laughed at attempts to secure his man's services for £4,000.

However, it seems Middleton is happy to take what cash he can to supplement his main living as a private investigator, with a little bit of bodyguard work thrown in, by supplying Harrison with the desired kind of opposition.

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When Middleton's name was announced, the Harrison team described the American in glowing terms. He is durable, they said. Formidable. "We've really pushed the boat out for him," said promoter Jess Harding.

Well, no he isn't. And no, they haven't.

Durable, formidable heavyweights don't lose five times inside two rounds in their first 18 fights to household names like Vinnie Madalone, Cedric Boswell and Ed Mosley. And, even for a bout scheduled for six rounds, they cost more than £3,500.

The horrible truth is that Middleton learned the basics of amateur boxing in the army, did a little kick-boxing after that and then embarked on his happy-go-lucky professional adventure. In March, he was even contemplating brawling on an unlicensed show somewhere in Epping Forest for £1,000 against a 48-year-old former heavyweight from the Midlands.

That sorry tale tells us all we need to know about Middleton's level of expectations from this business, and on top of his poor record should have been enough for the British Boxing Board of Control to have declined permission for him to box Harrison.

The board are not matchmakers, but customers at Wembley will be expected to pay up to £180 for tickets. The board have some responsibility to see that people who support boxing by digging into their pockets get value.

If they have, and someone in their sports department has happily accepted Middleton as a reasonable opponent for an Olympic gold medallist, then that person is guilty of either an appalling degree of cynicism or a frightening lack of knowledge.

There is a school of thought that allows a man making his professional debut some leeway, given the nerves of the occasion and the general anxiety of his team not to make a nasty blunder first time out.

There is truth in this. Mickey Duff, the master matchmaker of the previous BBC boxing era, learned that lesson when he saw 17-year-old Joe Bugner lose on a knockout in his opening bout. But Bugner was a boy barely out of school. Harrison is 29, an Olympic champion apparently in command of his sporting destiny.

Why, if he says he can be British champion in five fights, is he prepared to waste one of those enjoying a bit of target practice against Middleton?

Harrison charmed the nation such a short time ago. Now, sadly, the only possible conclusion to this lamentable piece of matchmaking is that he is prepared to take his public for mugs.